A Natural A Natural Approach to DesignApproach to Design

A DNA-Based Analogy for the Design of A DNA-Based Analogy for the Design of Sustainable ArtifactsSustainable Artifacts

Presented by:Presented by:

Dr. Filippo SalustriDr. Filippo SalustriAssociate Professor, Ryerson UniversityAssociate Professor, Ryerson University

Co-author:Co-author:

Damian RogersDamian RogersPhD Candidate, Ryerson UniversityPhD Candidate, Ryerson University

Research QuestionResearch Question

Can using a natural DNA analogy for Can using a natural DNA analogy for engineering design theory help engineering design theory help designers achieve sustainable designers achieve sustainable design, while maintaining or design, while maintaining or improving quality, speed, and cost?improving quality, speed, and cost?

What is Engineering What is Engineering Design?Design?

Is what happens every time something Is what happens every time something is engineeredis engineered

Interested in the ‘functional’ form Interested in the ‘functional’ form rather than the ‘physical’ or ‘artistic’ rather than the ‘physical’ or ‘artistic’ formform Design can mean either or bothDesign can mean either or both

Many different methods used for designMany different methods used for design QFD, TRIZ, systems-based, etcQFD, TRIZ, systems-based, etc

Most are quite similarMost are quite similar Simplicity, steps, outcomesSimplicity, steps, outcomes

Sustainable DesignSustainable Design

““Development that meets the needs of the Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”future generations to meet their own needs”

Sustainability has become a requirement on Sustainability has become a requirement on designdesign

Mostly, sustainability is an after-thoughtMostly, sustainability is an after-thought Some design methods deal with sustainabilitySome design methods deal with sustainability

DfS, DfE, Biomimicry, Bio-inspired design, etcDfS, DfE, Biomimicry, Bio-inspired design, etc Current methods do not contain sustainability Current methods do not contain sustainability

aspects within the processesaspects within the processes DNA analogy engrains sustainability directly DNA analogy engrains sustainability directly

into the design processinto the design process

Why a DNA analogy?Why a DNA analogy? The “building blocks of life” – building blocks The “building blocks of life” – building blocks

of artifactsof artifacts Nature uses DNA to preserve information for Nature uses DNA to preserve information for

organismsorganisms Humans tend to throw away this same Humans tend to throw away this same

information and/or do not update it with information and/or do not update it with advancesadvances Operations manual covered by countless layers of Operations manual covered by countless layers of

dustdust Keeping information helps create products Keeping information helps create products

more efficiently and with better resultsmore efficiently and with better results Lets us see what worked/did not work beforeLets us see what worked/did not work before

Nature is inherently sustainable, so then a Nature is inherently sustainable, so then a design process based off nature should also design process based off nature should also be sustainablebe sustainable

Does DNA make sense for Does DNA make sense for an artefact?an artefact?

Lifecycle ProcessesLifecycle Processes

Evolution – why laptops are Evolution – why laptops are like giraffeslike giraffes

Both evolved for Both evolved for specific reasonsspecific reasons Giraffe evolved a Giraffe evolved a

long neck allowing long neck allowing them to eat the food them to eat the food from high branchesfrom high branches

The laptop evolved The laptop evolved into a product into a product which is more which is more rugged to protect rugged to protect against accidental against accidental dropsdrops

Products EvolvingProducts Evolving

Products evolve over Products evolve over timetime

Evolve through Evolve through external influencesexternal influences

Internally, through Internally, through genetic mutation or genetic mutation or inter-breedinginter-breeding

Through scientific Through scientific advancesadvances

Light pen on hard,

specialized monitor

Touch sensitive

kiosk screen

PDA with touch screen

Mobile phone with

touch screen

Natural SelectionNatural Selection

We use “natural selection” for We use “natural selection” for productsproducts I term it ‘quasi-natural’ selectionI term it ‘quasi-natural’ selection Consider “Beta” and “HD DVD”Consider “Beta” and “HD DVD”

Selection is partly in/out of our controlSelection is partly in/out of our control Factors like:Factors like:

EnvironmentEnvironment MediaMedia Market analysisMarket analysis EconomyEconomy Current affairsCurrent affairs

MutationMutation

Permanent change to the genetic Permanent change to the genetic structurestructure Spontaneous or induced, beneficial or Spontaneous or induced, beneficial or

harmfulharmful Occurs in products tooOccurs in products too

Manufacturing defectsManufacturing defects On-site changesOn-site changes Part replacementPart replacement Technology changeTechnology change Design decisionDesign decision

An organic vs. artificial An organic vs. artificial genegene

The Analogy HoldsThe Analogy Holds

Analogy between natural and Analogy between natural and artificial design holdsartificial design holds Lifecycle processesLifecycle processes EvolutionEvolution Natural selectionNatural selection Mutation/inter-breedingMutation/inter-breeding GenesGenes

Where to get artifact Where to get artifact DNA?DNA?

Where in the process is the starting point?Where in the process is the starting point? A sort of chicken and egg problemA sort of chicken and egg problem

The forms already exist in current productsThe forms already exist in current products For example, there are plenty of existing homes For example, there are plenty of existing homes

to analyzeto analyze Can analyze existing products to establish Can analyze existing products to establish

the genes, then use the genome to create a the genes, then use the genome to create a new productnew product Similar to the way the Human Genome was Similar to the way the Human Genome was

mappedmapped

A First Step Towards A First Step Towards DNADNA

Analyze a sample group of some existing Analyze a sample group of some existing product, in order to break it down into its product, in order to break it down into its DNA analogous components (genes)DNA analogous components (genes) Effectively; data miningEffectively; data mining Stats, product history, marketing, media, etcStats, product history, marketing, media, etc

Must take into account that the genes are Must take into account that the genes are context dependentcontext dependent ie: genes for the structure of a house will not be ie: genes for the structure of a house will not be

the same in different regions (Nunavut vs. the same in different regions (Nunavut vs. Florida)Florida)

Mobile phone chargerMobile phone charger

Creating GenesCreating Genes Once the characteristic genes for a product are Once the characteristic genes for a product are

identified and classified, they have to be made into identified and classified, they have to be made into usable formsusable forms

Each gene will be expressed through use of a patternEach gene will be expressed through use of a pattern a pattern describes a process, method, or activities related a pattern describes a process, method, or activities related

to creating the artifact which they describeto creating the artifact which they describe Each gene has genetic optionsEach gene has genetic options

Gene for exterior cladding may have options for: brick, Gene for exterior cladding may have options for: brick, stucco, vinyl siding, etcstucco, vinyl siding, etc

Each option contains performance characteristicsEach option contains performance characteristics The stucco gene option has information on things like: The stucco gene option has information on things like:

lifetime, wear, thermal resistivity, air penetration rating, lifetime, wear, thermal resistivity, air penetration rating, carbon footprint, etccarbon footprint, etc

The gene pattern shows a designer how/when/where The gene pattern shows a designer how/when/where to use that gene/gene optionto use that gene/gene option

Gene patterns include a measure of sustainabilityGene patterns include a measure of sustainability The patterns are linked via a pattern languageThe patterns are linked via a pattern language

An Artificial GenomeAn Artificial Genome A collection of gene patterns is analogous A collection of gene patterns is analogous

to a genome for an organism.to a genome for an organism. One or more genes can define a chromosomeOne or more genes can define a chromosome One or more chromosomes defines a full One or more chromosomes defines a full

genomegenome This collection of artificial genetic This collection of artificial genetic

information is the ‘artificial genome’.information is the ‘artificial genome’. The genome then contains enough The genome then contains enough

information to reproduce a product, given information to reproduce a product, given certain contextual parameterscertain contextual parameters Contextual parameters are usually in the Contextual parameters are usually in the

customer requirementscustomer requirements These define what expectations and conditions These define what expectations and conditions

a product must meeta product must meet Requires the role of the designerRequires the role of the designer

Using DNA to Create an Using DNA to Create an ArtefactArtefact

Is DbD Effective?Is DbD Effective?

Need an experiment to test hypothesisNeed an experiment to test hypothesis 2 groups of volunteers: 1 test and 1 control2 groups of volunteers: 1 test and 1 control Both groups given the same task: given a list Both groups given the same task: given a list

of requirements, design an urban bicycleof requirements, design an urban bicycle Control group used common design processControl group used common design process Test group used DbDTest group used DbD

Analyze the final product of each participantAnalyze the final product of each participant Novelty, Usefulness, and CohesionNovelty, Usefulness, and Cohesion NASA TLXNASA TLX Short questionnaireShort questionnaire

Experimental results found in our paper Experimental results found in our paper at ASME Conferenceat ASME Conference

ConclusionsConclusions

Analogies reduce problem complexityAnalogies reduce problem complexity An analogy is possible, since there are An analogy is possible, since there are

many similarities between artifacts and many similarities between artifacts and organismsorganisms

Genes can be made from known product Genes can be made from known product information in order to design new productsinformation in order to design new products

Genes are constructed using patternsGenes are constructed using patterns Patterns are proven to reduce problem complexity and Patterns are proven to reduce problem complexity and

increase efficiencyincrease efficiency Gene options contain information and Gene options contain information and

characteristics on their sustainable aspectscharacteristics on their sustainable aspects

Thank you for your Thank you for your attentionattention

The floor is now open for The floor is now open for questions!questions!